Mask Off Explained

Mask Off
Cover:Future – Mask Off.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Future
Album:Future
Released:April 18, 2017[1]
Genre:
Length:
  • 3:23
  • 4:21
  • 2:59
Label:
Producer:Metro Boomin
Chronology:Future
Prev Title:No Pressure
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Rollin
Next Year:2017

"Mask Off" is a song by American rapper Future for his eponymous fifth studio album Future (2017). The track was later released as the second single after initially charting as an album track.[2] "Mask Off" was produced by Metro Boomin, and written by Future and Tommy Butler.

It was Future's highest-charting single, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, until the releases of "Life Is Good" (2020), "Way 2 Sexy" (2021), "Wait for U" (2022), and "Like That" (2024) with the former peaking at number two, and the latter three peaking at number one. The song was also his highest charting solo song until "Puffin on Zootiez" (2022) peaked at number four. A remix featuring Kendrick Lamar was released on June 16, 2017.

Future and the FreeWishes Foundation announced the "Mask On" campaign in 2020. Together, they provided more than 100,000 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Composition

The song samples "Prison Song" by Carlton Williams, released in 1978 as part of his musical Selma. In this track, Future opens up about drug use and addiction problems (Percocets, Molly Percocets). It also tells a story that explores the surface of Future's past, from trapping to living a life of luxury.[3]

Chart performance

"Mask Off" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 6, 2017, becoming his first top-five charting single on that chart.[4] It also peaked in the top 10 in New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, and France, where it charted the highest at number two. It has since been certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and streaming equivalent units of over nine million units in the United States.

Music video

The music video for "Mask Off" was released on May 5, 2017. It was directed by Colin Tilley, and features appearances from Amber Rose and DJ Esco.

Live performances and remixes

The official remix features a guest appearance from fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar and was mixed by engineer Alex Tumay, released on May 23, 2017.[5] Its release follows the performance of "Mask Off" by Future alongside Kendrick Lamar at the 2017 Coachella Festival.[6] Lamar performed live covers of "Mask Off" at every show on the Damn Tour since the release of the remix.[7]

On May 28, 2017, Joyner Lucas has released his own remix onto SoundCloud and YouTube entitled "Mask On" On the remix, he sent shots at Logic and Lil Yachty.

On June 16, 2017, a remix produced by Marshmello was released, which was deemed ironic by some as the DJ is known for masking his identity behind his namesake marshmallow-inspired helmet.[8] [9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Australia Urban (ARIA)[10] 1
France (SNEP)[11] 2
Italy (FIMI)[12] 52
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[13] 21
Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[14] 44

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)Position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 64
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 78
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 15
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 40
France (SNEP)[19] 8
Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 53
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[21] 58
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 49
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 34
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 43
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 19

Release history

RegionDateFormatVersionLabel
United StatesApril 18, 2017Contemporary hit radioOriginal
May 23, 2017Digital downloadRemix
June 16, 2017Marshmello Remix

Legacy

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 40/Future Releases. https://web.archive.org/web/20170417071324/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. All Access. April 17, 2017. April 17, 2017.
  2. Web site: Future's "Mask Off" Single Goes Gold Amid #MaskOffChallenge Spree. HipHopDX. Chandler. D.L.. April 8, 2017. April 10, 2017.
  3. Web site: Mask Off Lyrics. Genius. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622174427/https://genius.com/Future-mask-off-lyrics. 22 June 2019.
  4. Future Chart History. Billboard. 2020-01-22.
  5. Web site: Preview Kendrick Lamar's Verse on Future's "Mask Off" Remix. XXL. May 23, 2017. May 23, 2017.
  6. Web site: Coachella 2017: Watch Kendrick Lamar Bring Out Future, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q. Pitchfork. April 17, 2017. May 23, 2017.
  7. Web site: Masley. Ed. Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force. AZ Central. July 13, 2017. October 30, 2017.
  8. Web site: Mask Off (Marshmello Remix) . 2017-06-17 . en.
  9. Web site: Marshmello Ironically Remixes "Mask Off" By Future. Lucas. 2017-06-16. Your EDM. 2017-06-17.
  10. Web site: ARIA Urban Singles Chart. ARIA. April 5, 2017.
  11. Web site: Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) - SNEP. SNEP. fr. April 18, 2017.
  12. Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 18. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. May 5, 2017.
  13. Web site: Latvijas Top 40. http://www.freezepage.com/1493817275GSNOZWGSDG?url=http://www.pieci.lv/lv/lr5/top40. dead. May 3, 2017. Latvijas Radio. April 30, 2017. May 3, 2017.
  14. Web site: BillboardPH Hot 100. Billboard Philippines. June 12, 2017. June 12, 2017.
  15. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2017. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 5, 2018.
  16. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2017. Ultratop. December 21, 2017.
  17. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 17, 2017.
  18. Web site: Track Top-100 2017. Hitlisten. January 11, 2018.
  19. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2017. SNEP. fr. August 27, 2020.
  20. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. December 29, 2017.
  21. Web site: Stream Top 100 - 2017. February 17, 2018. Mahasz.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017. Hung Medien. December 23, 2017.
  23. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2017. Recorded Music NZ. December 22, 2017.
  24. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2017. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 16, 2018.
  25. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. December 31, 2017.
  26. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017. Official Charts Company. January 10, 2018.
  27. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  28. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. August 13, 2019.
  29. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. August 13, 2019.
  30. Web site: 2021-05-13. Future's 'Mask Off' Trends After CDC Reveals New Guidelines. 2021-08-08. HipHopDX.
  31. Web site: How Future's 'Mask On' COVID-19 Campaign Has Helped Hundreds of Thousands. 2021-08-08. Complex. en.
  32. Web site: Alston. Trey. Future's 'Mask Off' Has 'Easily' Provided More Than 100,000 Masks During The Coronavirus Pandemic. https://web.archive.org/web/20200421040302/http://www.mtv.com/news/3163797/future-mask-off-nonprofit-organization-100000-masks/. dead. April 21, 2020. 2021-08-08. MTV News. en.
  33. Web site: Johnson. Cherise. 2020-09-20. City of Inglewood creates COVID-19 "Mask On" PSA inspired by Future. 2021-08-08. REVOLT. en.